The Connection Magazine - May/June 2022 by Connection magazine

the

connection

Around Alcester, Bidford & the Villages May-June 2022 No. 155

magazine

TRAVEL

Take a trip to Sardinia

A JOYOUS JUBILEE GARDENING

for mental wellness

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Useful phone numbers

Welcome

... to the May/June Connection Doctors / Health

Alcester Health Centre The Arrow Surgery Bidford Health Centre NHS Direct Samaritans

Hospitals

Redditch Hospital Stratford Hospital Warwick Hospital

Emergency

Emergency Services Alcester Police BT Fault Electric Power Loss Gas Emergency

Others

Alcester Library Bidford Library Citizens’ Advice Bureau Electrician Funeral Services Locksmith Plumber/Heating Plumber/Heating Plumber/Heating Volunteer Drivers

Schools

Alcester Academy Alcester Grammar St Benedict’s High Bidford-on-Avon Primary Coughton Primary Dunnington Primary Great Alne Primary Haselor Primary Our Lady’s Primary Salford Priors Primary St Nicholas Primary Temple Grafton Primary

Councils

Alcester Town Council Bidford Parish Council Stratford Dist Council

It’s difficult to start this without overlooking the changes that have happened in the world since my last time of writing. There’s been an inescapable stream of very difficult news, just as we all thought things were returning to some form of normality again. It’s easy to get sucked into negative thought spirals and to feel helpless to effect change. But when you lift your heads and look around, it’s possible to see rays of light in the way that communities rally to help... with food banks, fundraisers, offers of housing and material donations. 01527 503030 01789 205831 If you find yourself feeling morose and demoralised, there 01926 495321 are good things going on within our communities and things to look forward to as well. Turn to the Alcester Town Council (p.36) and Bidford Parish Council (p.38) newsletters, where you’ll be signposted to festivities for the upcoming Platinum 999 or 112 Jubilee (p.14). And for those who find therapy in being 01789 444816 outdoors, perhaps this edition’s gardening article (p.18-20) 08008 00151 will be of interest. 08004 04090 The warmer weather (fingers crossed!) will bring extra vitamin 08001 11999 D and help lift our moods, and with it comes cricket season. It’s great to have ‘View from the boundary’ back (p.30) and 0300 555 8171 to look forward to some typical British weather at one of the 01789 773239 plentiful local clubs. It always cheers our family! 0844 855 2322 If you’re considering some additional sun and seeking an 07771 616189 idea for a travel location, turn to pages 32-33 to find out 01789 766750 more about stunning Sardinia. I’ve certainly added it to my 01789 762450 growing list of places to visit. And don’t forget to get some 01789 766200 reading materials at the ready for your trip. Have a look at our 01789 270744 summer book list (p.12) for inspiration. 01386 871777 Many of you won’t have failed to notice how the cost of 01789 262889 living is on the up. Please continue to support your local independent businesses if you can. They will have to put their prices up too, in order to stay afloat, so let’s continue to show 01789 762285 that wonderful community spirit and show kindness to them. 01789 762494 Your purchases, however small, are appreciated by business 01789 762888 owners more than you realise! 01789 763060 01789 763293 01789 773372 111 116 123

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Amy

July/August Copy Deadline: Friday 10th June 2022

Facebook.com/theconnectionmag Twitter.com/connection_mag Connection circulation: 10,500 Editor: Amy James Phone 01789 453130 Email: info@connectionmags.co.uk www.connectionmags.co.uk Printed by Warwick Printing Ltd 01926 883355 Whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy, the publishers cannot accept responsibility for loss, damage or omission caused by error in the printing of an advert. All artwork is accepted on the strict condition that permission has been given for use in the publication. Adverts are accepted on the understanding that descriptions of goods and services are fair and accurate. The Connection Magazine does not ofﬁcially endorse any advertising material included within this publication. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system or transmitted in any form – electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise – without the prior consent of the publisher.

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Full of Mediterranean avours, this one pot dish is perfect for busy days. Preparation time 15 minutes Cooking time 40 minutes Serves 4 Ingredients • 8 new potatoes, halved • 4 chicken breasts, skinless and boneless • 2 tsp Italian seasoning • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste • 2 tbsp olive oil • 1 tsp crushed garlic • 1 onion, nely chopped • 1 400g can coconut milk • 200g cherry tomatoes, halved • 4 sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and roughly chopped • 1 tbsp cornour • 250g baby spinach leaves • Handful of basil leaves or parsley to serve, optional

Method 1. Preheat the oven to 180C / 160C fan / gas mark 4. 2. Place the new potatoes in a pan of boiling salted water and parboil for 5 minutes, then drain. 3. Rub the chicken breasts with sea salt, black pepper and Italian seasoning. 4. Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a casserole dish. Add the chicken breasts and cook for about 5 minutes until starting to turn lightly golden. Flip over and cook for a further 5 minutes. 5. Remove the chicken and place on a plate. 6. Add the rest of the oil then stir in the garlic and onion and sauté for 2 minutes to soften. 7. Pour in the coconut milk. Add the chicken, cherry tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes and new potatoes. Stir well. 8. Cover and place in the oven for 20 minutes until the chicken is cooked through. 9. Remove the pan from the oven and place on the hob. 10. Mix the cornour with a little water to slacken. 11. Stir in the spinach and cornour mixture. Simmer for a couple of minutes over a low heat to thicken the sauce. 12. Serve with a scattering of basil or parsley (if using) and a mixed salad.

Nutrition per serving: 329kcal, fat 21g (of which saturates 16g), carbohydrates 15g (of which sugars 5.2g), protein 35g

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Summer tiiime, and the living is eeeeasy…. Whether you’re looking for some barbecue inspiration or just a new novel to keep you company on the hammock, we’ve got you covered. Tom Kerridge’s Outdoor Cooking – Tom Kerridge From Umami Mushroom & Halloumi Burgers to Shawarma Chicken Wraps, Tom Kerridge’s recipes will lift your barbecuing endeavours to the next level. Don’t panic, none of them will keep you tied to the kitchen while your friends are enjoying themselves with a beer in the garden. They may well nudge you into barbecuing daily well into autumn though. One Italian Summer – Rebecca Serle Reeling from the death of her mother, Katy heads to Italy on what was supposed to be a long-awaited mother-and-daughter trip. While there, she meets the 30-year-old version of her mother – almost unrecognisable from the woman Katy’s known all her life. As the two women become friends against the vivid backdrop of the Amal Coast, Katy works through her grief and discovers a lot more about herself in the process. The Modern Gardener – Frances Tophill – published by Kyle Books If spending time outdoors has got you itching to make some changes to your garden, this book is a good place to look for inspiration. As the subtitle explains, it’s intended as ‘a practical guide to gardening creatively, productively and sustainably’. You’ll nd bags of information on everything from designing your garden, choosing plants and addressing common challenges to using your garden plants to make drinks, natural dyes and more. Five Minute Mum: On the Go – Daisy Upton Summer holidays are just around the corner. If you’re already wondering how you’re going to keep the kids out of your hair, this book might help. The focus is on easy-to-set-up activities to do outside the house, from games for the train to craft challenges for family gatherings. There’s even a page of ideas for making the most of sugar sachets and serviettes at service stations. Feel Better In 5: Your Daily Plan to Feel Great for Life – Rangan Chatterjee Many of us go on a health kick at the start of the summer. We aim for major changes, struggle to stick to them and then beat ourselves up (and reach for another biscuit). Rangan Chatterjee’s plan is decidedly easier to stick to. Five-minute practices, three times a day. One for your heart. One for your body. And one for your mind. He also gives top tips for creating better habits and getting to the root of what’s holding you back. Twelve Secrets – Robert Gold Fed up of ‘churn them out’ crime series? Looking for a fast-paced, intelligent thriller with twists and turns aplenty? Take a chance on Robert Gold’s debut – Twelve Secrets. The main character, Ben Harper, is an investigative journalist pushed into taking a fresh look at a crime he really doesn’t want to explore – the murder of his brother ten years before. It seems that in Ben’s tight-knit community, everyone has something to hide. Gripping.

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June’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations mark an extraordinary 70 years since Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne, surpassing the previous record held by her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria, who reigned for 63 years. Born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary on 21st April 1926 at 17 Bruton Street, London, the girl nicknamed Lilibet wasn’t destined to be Queen. She was the eldest daughter of Prince Albert and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, Duke and Duchess of York. The Duke, a shy man with a pronounced stammer, was the younger brother of Edward who was heir to the throne, and the family of four with their two daughters were anticipating a quiet life without the heavy responsibilities of rule. However, an event that shocked the nation was to propel Elizabeth into the spotlight and take her on a quite different path. Only twelve months after his coronation, Edward VIII’s love for a twice-divorced American woman, Wallace Simpson, led him to abdicate. It may seem strange to us now, but even into the 1960s it was strictly taboo for a sovereign, or member of the Royal family, to marry a divorcee. As second in line to the throne, Edward’s brother Albert had to take his place. Crowned King George VI on 11th December 1936 at 40 years old, Princess Elizabeth, then ten, became heir. From that point, her education and upbringing focused on the fact she would one day be Queen.

In 1947, Elizabeth married Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten in Westminster Abbey. They settled in Clarence House and two years later Prince Charles was born. Although still only 55 years old, in the summer of 1951 King George’s health began to fail and the young Princess Elizabeth had to undertake her rst ofcial duty when she stepped in to represent her father at the Trooping of the Colour. That autumn, Elizabeth and Philip departed for a tour of Canada and Washington DC, where the young couple was enthusiastically received. In January 1952, they set out for another tour of Australia and New Zealand. However, on 6th February, while en route in Kenya, the King died of a coronary thrombosis at Sandringham. Elizabeth immediately ew back as Queen. She was just 25 years old. After three months of private mourning for her beloved father, Queen Elizabeth moved into Buckingham Palace and began to start the routine duties expected of a monarch. She took her role seriously, conducting her rst state opening of Parliament in November 1952. Her coronation was held at Westminster Abbey on 2nd June 1953. Controversially, Prince Philip was instrumental in having the ceremony televised. Both the Queen and her husband subsequently worked to modernise the monarchy while retaining its traditional sense of public duty and creed of “never complain, never explain.” Like all of us, Queen Elizabeth has lived through difcult times, and last year lost her husband and life companion. But despite bouts of ill health herself, she has stoically continued her duties. Now, aged 96 and still head of the Commonwealth, she has lived a life of service to her country and is admired, respected and loved around the globe. By Catherine Rose

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Your visual guide to businesses, products & services from Alcester, Bidford & the surrounding villages.

Tilly Rose Beauty Boutique, Bidford-on-Avon B50 4BG | 01789 778349

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Jacksons Jewellers, Alcester B49 5DX | 01789 766611

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Richard Fantom Eyecare, Bidford-on-Avon B50 4BQ | 01789 459409

By Caroline Knight: Gardendesignideas.co.uk

Phrases come and phrases go and ‘cancel culture’ is one of the current expressions thst tends to arouse passion. Within the gardening community we prefer to think in terms of ‘subtraction satisfaction’. What is this and how can it help improve mental health (another well-used phrase that uses loaded language)? Simply put, most of us need to do less. Many people seem to have too much going on. The digital age and our comparatively luxurious lifestyles mean there are multiple demands on our time. There’s always another gadget to buy, ‘life-enhancing’ changes to make to the home or that ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ holiday to save for (these things always happen more than once). We work more in order to play more and often give in to peer pressure urging us to join in with a greater number of things. This lifestyle suits a wide range of people, but very rarely is it perfect for gardening folk. So, this wonderful time in spring is the very best time to make space for gardening. Subtracting commitments from the diary will help you to do it. Gardening cannot be rushed! A garden is a healing, nurturing place where mental health is soothed and the soul is fed with contentment.

18 connectionmags.co.uk

Tend to your green carpet in glorious spring This is the month of plenty, so it’s vital to allow yourself time to enjoy it. Garden tasks can feel overwhelming because everything is growing so fast. Prioritise the lawn, if you have one, because it will provide a visual feature during the months to come. Cut and reshape the edges, it’s amazing what a difference this makes. Gradually lower the cutting blade each mowing time, aiming for grass length of around 6cm – don’t be tempted to take it too low. Most importantly, leave some patches of longer grass for wildlife. At least one square metre is recommended. Joyful garden tasks for late spring The long days mean that summer is almost here and early spring growth in the garden can be tidied up to make way for the glorious summer show. Spring-ﬂowering shrubs often beneﬁt from being pruned back to healthy buds, but take time to check the most effective method for each species. In the case of forsythia, for example, best results are achieved by taking out some of the older stems, right down to the ground. This thins the shrub whilst still allowing it to adopt its natural form. What you don’t want is a ‘mechanical massacre’ whereby everything is rounded into a blob. Take a walk around your local modern housing estate to see it! Abelia, choisya, helichrysum and chaenomeles can also be pruned now.

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Climbers such as clematis need you to be wise. Some of them can have a light clip at this time of year, but not those that are about to flower! The easyto-remember advice “if it flowers before June, don’t prune” will tell you what type of pruning group your clematis falls into. The early-flowering clematis only need a very light clip after flowering, whereas those that flower after June will mostly benefit from a harder prune next February. This will encourage the plant to produce flowers all the way down the stems rather than purely on the newer top growth. Celebrate the season by planting out your annuals towards the end of the month, when all danger of frost has passed. Hanging baskets and bedding will provide vibrant colour and interest right through until October.

Jobs in the kitchen garden • If you are growing strawberries, lay straw between the plants and the soil. It will lessen the chance of mould spoiling the crop and will keep those luscious red fruits clean, too. • Did you know that you can achieve greater yields from your vegetable beds if you plant in triangles rather than rows or squares? Stagger your plants, but don’t plant too closely. The crop is far better when there’s a bit more space in between. • It’s time to make supports for runner beans. Allow about 2.5m of height and plant just one bean per support. These can go in the ground at the end of the month. • Chit and plant potatoes, if you haven’t done so already. They like soft, crumbly soil. Always avoid planting them in boggy sites. • Get weeds under control this month and it will make the rest of the growing season much easier. Hoe when the weather is dry, as this stops weeds in their tracks.

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The best dementia care, on your doorstep At Care UK’s Ambleside care home, we deliver awardwinning care to older people who are living with dementia. Everything we do is focused on supporting your loved one to enjoy a wonderful quality of life – an approach we call ‘Fulﬁlling lives’. Our caring and experienced colleagues learn all they can about your loved one, tailoring every aspect of their care and lifestyle to their unique needs and interests. At Care UK, we’re trained in the latest dementia care approaches, thanks to our partnership with the Association for Dementia Studies at Worcester University, and a Dementia Coach in each home supports all colleagues to deliver high quality care. Enjoy a fulﬁlling life Living at Ambleside is all about continuing to enjoy hobbies and interests, making new friends,

and even trying new experiences. Activities such as music sessions and baking help to spark happy memories. Seated exercise classes and gardening enable your loved one to stay ﬁt and active. At Ambleside, if there is a wish or goal you’ve always wanted to

Dine with dignity at Care UK Our award-winning ‘Dining with dignity’ approach is all about enabling residents to continue enjoying delicious and nutritious food. Our kitchen team undertake specialist training so they can create tempting modiﬁed menus if your loved one needs a special diet. We use our own bespoke dementia-friendly crockery to promote independent eating, but discrete help and support is always at hand if your loved one needs it. Discover the Care UK difference At Care UK, we have more ‘Outstanding’-rated homes than any other provider and have won more awards than any other provider in the last three years. Discover why over 8,000 families trust us to care. To ﬁnd out more about Ambleside please call 01789 867261 or email julia.joy@careuk.com Ambleside care home Evesham Road, Dodwell, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 9TG careuk.com/ambleside

For many people, long-distance driving is a common occurrence. Be that for work or personal reasons, sometimes doing big miles is a part of daily life – and a car that’ll conquer big trips without breaking a sweat can make a real difference. So here, we’re going to be looking at the cars that’ll take the backache out of long-distance journeys. Mercedes S-Class We’re starting with a car that is famed for its comfort and renement. The S-Class – which was recently revised – has always brought a sumptuous quality to driving and this latest version is no different. Thanks to air suspension and armchair-like seats, the S-Class is a car with which the hours will y by – be that for passengers or drivers. BMW 8 Series BMW has a ne history when it comes to making comfortable yet involving grand tourers and the 8 Series is a great extension of this. It’s superb to drive and will monster even the longest stints with no hesitation. There’s also an excellent diesel that, though not the most sporting of options, gives the 8 Series excellent long-range abilities. Citroen C4 If you’re after all-out comfort then Citroen has historically been one of the best options. Its latest C4, despite its distinctive design, has kept this time-honoured tradition to heart, maintaining high levels of comfort and renement. There’s also an electric version that, with its 217mile range and rapid charging capabilities, isn’t just restricted to local drives. Peugeot 3008 Peugeot, much like Citroen, has many years’ worth of experience when it comes to creating cars that are comfortable over long distances. The new 3008 is no different, with well-sorted suspension combined with comfortable chairs in one rened package. Many drivers will appreciate the somewhat raised-up driving position it offers, too.

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Audi Q5 Audi’s extensive line-up of SUVs might mean it’s a little tricky to choose, but we’d still opt for the Q5 given the choice. A mainstay of the rm’s range for many years now, the Q5 is a great option for families or those who need a little extra space. But if you’re after the best possible ride comfort, don’t be tempted to opt for a Q5 on larger alloy wheels – they tend to upset the suspension somewhat.

Skoda Fabia Cars don’t need to be large in order to be comfortable. The Fabia is a great example of this, packing big-car renement into a compact set-up. It’s surprisingly spacious, too, while a range of efcient petrol and diesel engines means it’s not expensive to run, either. Skoda has also kitted the Fabia out with loads of features, ensuring that those long journeys remain as comfortable as possible.

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BACK OF THE NET Hello again, I was talking to someone recently after yet another suspect VAR decision. We discussed the offside rule and its complications. My friend suggested doing away with the offside rule completely. That takes some thinking about. Would it mean that teams would employ a ‘goal hanger’, a player who never leaves the opponent’s penalty area, leading to a ‘long ball’ game? Would an opposing defender have to stay back to deter goal hanging? Or would it really change the game that much? It’s an interesting idea but I can’t see the game’s powers wanting to give up drawing their on-screen lines and five minute deliberations. On the subject of VAR, I really couldn’t see any reason for disallowing Marcos Alonso’s goal in the quarter final against Real Madrid. If

we are going to sanitise football to that degree then we may as well give up! Anyone who has played the game will know that there will be times when the ball is deflected onto other parts of the body than the legs. That is part of the game, it can’t be helped. The ‘hand ball’ decision against Alonso was clearly accidental and so minor that the goal should have been allowed to stand (in my humble opinion). If it requires a rule change then the rule should be changed. And so we move on to squeaky bum time for those teams at the wrong end of the tables. Norwich and Watford must surely be doomed and, with Newcastle and Leeds starting to pick up points, it looks like a straight fight between Everton and Burnley to decide which team joins them for relegation to the Championship. Steve Bruce couldn’t do his magic at West Brom so they will be staying down for another season. Coventry have done well and will continue to build while Birmingham have disappointed again. I hope you have enjoyed the season and we will meet again in September. Till next season...

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View from the boundary by Rich James

as it only a year ago that I was bemoaning England’s failures over the winter of 2020/21? Well, if twelve months have passed, not much has changed in regard to the fortunes of the national test side. A disastrous summer’s schedule saw defeat to New Zealand, a drawn series against India, then a comprehensive defeat in Australia in a damp squib of an Ashes contest.

This run of results has led to a change in leadership with Chris Silverwood losing his role as Head Coach and Chief Selector. A much vaunted ‘reset’ has been promised, but so far we’ve seen controversy with the axing of experienced and successful bowlers, Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad, followed by yet another disappointing spring series in the West Indies. It’s a cycle that the Test team really needs to find a way to get out of. In positive international news, it was great to see such a positive showing from the England Women’s side in the World Cup in New Zealand. After losing their opening three matches, every game became a knockout match for the side. But the quality shone through and excellent performances from Nat Sciver, Danni Wyatt and particularly left arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone saw a run of results taking England to the final against Australia. The Aussies won the final thanks in no part to an incredible 170* from Alyssa Healy, but an unbeaten century from Sciver ensured England were not completely outclassed.

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This final defeat will probably prove to be the end of two excellent international careers from veteran bowlers Katherine Brunt and Anya Shrubsole. Both have been integral to England’s successes over the past decade, but England are fortunate that there are replacements ready to step up and take the helm in future matches. On a local front, the Cotswold Hills League is due to start on May 7th, and we can only hope that there isn’t a repeat of last May’s month of rain. As ever the local scene is thriving, Exhall & Wixford remain the strongest side in the area as they will inevitably compete for the Premier Division title again. Division One sees Alcester & Ragley have another run at promotion and are joined for the first time at this level by Temple Grafton following their excellent 2021 season. Bidford on Avon are looking for a third consecutive promotion from Division Two, whilst Great Alne will have another attempt at getting promoted from Division Three. The lower divisions of the CHL have been regionalised for this summer with a north/south split. Alcester’s 2nd XI are in Div 4 South and Div 5 South will see Exhall, Bidford and Temple Grafton’s second strings competing for honours. Junior Cricket is thriving in the area with many of the local clubs offering All Stars and Dynamos sessions for kids aged 5-7 and 8-11 respectively. Please visit the ECB website to find a local club offering this hugely fun introduction to cricket. Fingers crossed for a few weeks of sun and warm weather!

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Sun-bleached beaches, glistening shores and mouth-watering food: Sardinia is a holiday destination from heaven. While the island is known for its winning sun-sea-sand combination, this Italian gem is full of surprises too. Lush mountains, hidden grottoes, Roman ruins and a cultural capital all offer some exciting alternatives to lazy days by the beach – and all just a threehour ight away! If we’ve got you in the holiday mood, here are just ve reasons why Sardinia should be on your radar when booking your next escape. It’s a beach lover’s paradise Imagine swathes of powder-white sand kissed by crystal clear shores, heated by the Italian summer sun. Sounds like paradise, right? Whether you’re a family looking for shallow waters and gently sloping sands, or a couple seeking a secluded spot off the beaten track, Sardinia has a beach – or spiaggia – for everyone. With over 1,800km of pristine coastline, you’ll be spoilt for choice on where to stay. Cala Brandinchi, nicknamed ‘Little Tahiti’, is probably the island’s most famous beach. This thin arc of soft sand lapped by crystalline turquoise waters certainly lives up to its name. Its shallow waters

are perfect for swimming, while the surrounding pine trees offer plenty of shade. Families will love the soft sands and shallow waters of Chia’s Spiaggia Sa Colonia and Spiaggia Su Portu in the south of the island. Don’t forget to look out for the wild amingos in the lagoon! Or if you’re looking for some peace and quiet, look no further than Spiaggia di Piscinas along the Costa Verde (Green Coast). This ribbon of golden sand is home to a vast expanse of dunes, rising up to 60m. The food is divine Sardinia’s food is enough reason to visit alone. A wealth of local culinary traditions mixed with the island’s Mediterranean and Italian inuences combine to create a delicious cuisine heavy in grilled and spit-roasted meats, not to mention a mouth-watering array of breads and cheeses. You’ll nd all the classic Italian favourites such as pizza and pasta on most menus, but the local specialties are well worth a try. Su Porcheddu, or roast suckling pig, is a must-try for meat-eaters while vegetarians will love Culurgiones – pasta lled with potato, pecorino cheese, garlic and mint leaves, layered with a sweet tomato sauce.

It’s more than just a beach break From colourful villages and rustic towns soaked in history to ancient stone buildings dating back thousands of years, Sardinia has plenty of sights and experiences to coax you away from the sand. With a culture rich in history and tradition, there’s something new and exciting to discover around almost every corner. Walk the city walls of Alghero, explore Roman ruins in Nora or visit in the shoulder season and take a hiking trip into the island’s lush green mountains. If you’re feeling adventurous, but want to stay close to your resort, you could even throw yourself into some water sports. Sailing, windsurng and scuba diving opportunities await! It’s the land of luxury Wake up to a view of the sparkling sea, treat yourself to a spa treatment, while away your afternoon in designer boutiques before enjoying a dinner t for a king: there’s a reason why Sardinia is so popular with the rich and famous. The Costa Smeralda region in the north is synonymous with glitz and glamour. This glistening stretch of coastline, starting in Porto

Cervo and travelling around the headland to Portisco, oozes style and sophistication. Pick your favourite superyacht, treat yourself to lunch in a gourmet restaurant and people-watch from a charming pavement cafe. Oh, and keep an eye out for famous faces! Sardinia’s beauty attracts billionaires and celebrities from all over the globe. The holiday season is long Blessed with a warm Mediterranean climate from April to October, Sardinia is renowned for its ‘six-month summers’. The island is at its hottest in July and August, with temperatures reaching a scorching 30°C. This is the perfect time to visit if you fancy lazing around on the beach, topping up the tan and soaking up the holiday atmosphere. However, Sardinia also enjoys a balmy climate in April, May, September and October, giving you the chance to stretch out your summer for longer. The shoulder season is a great time to visit if you’re looking for a quieter escape and slightly cooler temperatures. It’s also a prime time to buckle up your walking boots and do some exploring.

NEIGHBOURHOOD N EIGHBOURHOOD W WATCH ATCH A ALCESTER LCESTER Fak ke Ukraiine Chariity Alertt.

Fraudsters are sending fake charity emails to raise money for the victims of war in Ukraine and pocketing the money. Action Fraud reports that recipients are asked for bitcoin donations to buy T-shirts. The links take them to websites designed to steal your personal information and cash. Look out for spelling and grammatical mistakes and forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk. Do your research about who you are paying. Check the charity’s name and registration number on gov. uk/find-charity-information. Most charities with an annual income of £5000 or more must be registered. The Fundraising Regulator also has a directory of charities at fundraisingregulator. org.uk/directory. The next meeting of NHW Alcester will be held on Wednesday 29th June 2022 at 7pm in Church House, Butter Street when PC Rob Davies will provide a Crime Report and discuss Police Matters. Firefighters from Alcester Fire Station will also attend and give a short talk on Fire Safety in the Home. Anybody who wishes to have smoke detectors installed in their house may leave their contact details at the meeting. Everyone is welcome. Communicating with the Police: Emergencies and active crime, call 999. The Police non emergency number: 101 to be used to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response. 101 diverts to your local Police. Calls cost 15p per call, (landlines and mobiles). Alcester Police South Safer Neighbourhood Watch Scheme Team email: alcestersouth.snt@warwickshire.pnn.police.uk SGT 1685 David Ebbs david.ebbs@warwickshire.pnn.police.uk PC 1672 Rob Davies robert.davies4@warwickshire.pnn.police.uk PCSO 6327 Carolyn Davis carolyn.davis1@warwickshire.pnn.police.uk PCSO 6111 Gary Johnson-Jones gary.johnson-jones@warwickshire.pnn.police.uk Alcester Ofﬁce 01789 444816. Always report an active crime on 999. Nonemergency calls on 101. Online reporting

services are also available on our website: https://www.warwickshire.police.uk/ Facebook - Alcester Police Twitter - @AlcesterCops Instagram - southwarwickshiresnts Call Crimestoppers anonymously with information about crime on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is a charity that will pass on information to police without revealing any details of the caller. Contact Warwickshire Trading Standards 01926 414040 to report a suspect rogue trader. General advice on scams and rogue traders contact 0845 4040 506. You can also report a fraud or cyber crime to Action Fraud on: 0300 123 2040 or visit www. actionfraud.police.uk. For more information about Neighbourhood Watch Alcester please contact nhwalcester@ gmail.com or telephone Dorrie Manders on 01789 762999.

Alcester is a relatively crime free area. We work together to keep it that way 34 connectionmags.co.uk

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Alcester Town Council MAY-JUNE 2022

Platinum Jubilee Celebrations Alcester Town Council and Alcester Branch of The Royal British Legion will be hosting a Beacon Lighting Ceremony on Thursday 2 June at Centenary Field.

Picnics are invited from 6pm. Refreshments will also be available. Everyone is welcome. Later in the evening the Alcester Town Beacon will be lit to join thousands of others also being lit around the world to commemorate The Queen’s incredible achievement. On Sunday 5 June Alcester Town Council is delighted to be hosting a Street Party. Please see the details below.

Town Council Meetings All Town Council meetings are currently held in person at Globe House with the exception of the Planning Committee which generally meets using Zoom. All meetings in 2022 commence at 7pm. Full Council Meetings: Tuesdays 10 May & 7 June Planning Committee: Mondays 16 May & 20 June Please see our website for other committee meeting dates www.alcester-tc.gov.uk Members of the public are welcome to attend all Council meetings and are given time at the start of the meetings to speak. Anyone wishing to attend or ask questions should contact the Town Clerk on: clerk@alcester-tc.gov.uk before 2pm, the day before the meeting, to obtain further details. Agendas are published on the Town Council website at: www.alcester-tc.gov.uk and copies can be viewed on the Council notice boards.

Alcester Town Council Contact Details:

The Town Council offices are open Monday to Friday, 9am-1pm. If you have an enquiry for the Town Council, please phone 01789 766084 or email clerk@alcester-tc.gov.uk and we will repond as soon as we can. Alcester Town Council offices: Globe House, Priory Road, Alcester B49 5DZ Tel: 01789 766084

Town Clerk - Vanessa Lowe: clerk@alcester-tc.gov.uk Planning & Communication - Sarah Duran: administration@alcester-tc.gov.uk Health & Wellbeing - Wendy Sherwood: info@alcester-tc.gov.uk Office Administrator - Tim Forman: office@alcester-tc.gov.uk Further information can be found on our social media pages:

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Bidford on Avon Parish Council in the County of Warwickshire

BIDFORD RURAL CINEMA The Crawford Memorial Hall Management Committee hopes to restart this soon though limited to one Friday evening a month and will update the website accordingly as well as the noticeboards and social media. ANNUAL PARISH ASSEMBLY This is back after 2 Covid ridden years. The date is Saturday 21st May, 9.30 – 12.00 (times tbc) at the Crawford Memorial Hall. A wonderful opportunity for all residents, old and new, to see what the parish has to offer and discuss with Parish Councillors proposals to further improve the village and its facilities. There will be free refreshments on offer. YOUR VILLAGE, YOUR CHOICE Developments continue to take place with the Canoe sub group joining the the Walking & Cycling sub group in holding successful virtual meeting. You will be able to keep up with its ideas via the meeting’s notes available at https:// bidfordonavon-pc.gov.uk/your-village-your-voice/ Volunteers are always welcome so, if you are interested in the future of the village’s Recreation Strategy, please email the Clerk at info@ bidfordonavon-pc.gov.uk. QUEEN’S PLATINUM JUBILEE Queens Platinum Jubilee Group has been working hard arranging a variety of events to take place over all 4 days of the Queens Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday, 2nd to 4th June. The Parish Council has ring fenced £15,000 towards the costs of what promises to be a Great Village Event. You can see the full programme and follow any updates at https://bidfordonavon-pc.gov.uk/platinumjubilee-2022/. And keep an eye open for the programme being posted to all households. BIG MEADOW is now open for the summer season. All residents who pay their precept to Bidford on Avon Parish are able to obtain a car fob that allows free parking in the Big Meadow. This can be obtained from the Parish Council Office, situated in Bramley Way Monday to Friday 10.30 – 12.30. If you are not on the Electoral Roll, the Clerk will need to see a Council Tax Invoice with name and address. Please note, replacement fobs are available at a cost of £5. If you have changed cars, simply let the Clerk have your fob number and new car registration, and she will update your records.

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BIDFORD VINTAGE GATHERING After a 2-year break this popular family event is back at the Big Meadow! Make sure you enter the weekend end of 7/8 May in your diaries. MONTHLY POLICE SURGERIES at the school car park on Bramley Way on 19th May, 9.30 – 10.30. See https://bidfordonavon-pc. gov.uk/police-surgery-at-the-school-car-park/ WEEKLY EVENTS Mondays 10.30 - 12.30 Dementia Cafe at Westholme Court. Wednesdays 10.00 - 12.00 Warm Hub at the Crawford Memorial Hall. Thursdays 10.00 - 11.30 Jolly Teapot at St Laurence Church Rooms. MEETINGS • Planning Consultative Committee Meeting: Monday 9 May & 13 June, 7.30pm. • Parish Council Meeting: Monday 30 May (Annual Meeting) & 27 June at 7.30pm. All meetings, which are open to the public, are held at the Parish Council Meeting Room, Bramley Way, B50 4QG (unless stated otherwise). It is at these meetings that decisions that directly affect our village and our local community are made – so be part of it and come and see what happens. BIDFORD EMAIL INFORMATION Want to know what is happening in the village every week? Sign up by emailing the Clerk at info@bidfordonavon-pc.gov.uk and your name will be added to the Weekly email Information list and you will receive an email regarding upcoming events and notices. SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook - Bidford on Avon Twitter - @Bidford_PC. Instagram - bidfordpc PARISH COUNCIL CONTACTS Clerk to the Parish Council – Mrs. Elisabeth Uggerløse. Tel No. 07718 628 925 Email: info@bidfordonavon-pc.gov.uk Website: www.bidfordonavon-pc.gov.uk. A list of Parish Councillors can be found online: bidfordonavon-pc.gov.uk/councillors.htm

Elisabeth Uggerlose - Clerk to the Parish Council

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community events & what’s on...

To publicise any community events, email info@connectionmags.co.uk by 10th of June. Alcester Art Club

Meeting every Thursday at Church House, Butter Street, Alcester, from 7 to 9pm, we are just a group of people who enjoy painting. We have occasional demonstrations and an exhibition during the Autumn Street Market. Our costs are purely to pay the rent and for extra occasions, not for profit, just for fun. No need to be able to paint, just be keen and enthusiastic. Contact Sally White, 07443 510545.

Harvington Phoenix Ladies Group

We are a group of ladies who meet on the first Wednesday of the month, usually in the Village Hall, at 7.45pm to catch up with old friends and new and enjoy a glass of wine or a cup of tea. We also have ad-hoc events which pop up now and again. Wehavespeakers,demonstrationsanddaysout.Wehave fun, friendship and lots of laughs. Somewhere along the line we also raise a little money for a local charity - this year it's Working World. Ladies of any age can join us. This year we will have chocolate tasting, visits to castles, theatre trips, canoeing, Christmas decoration making and lots more. On Wednesday 4th May (7.45pm Village Hall) we have Mr Steve Wilkes coming to tell us about 'Japan in the Autumn', which will be fascinating and we look forward to hearing about his visits and seeing his wonderful pictures. Interested? Come along to a meeting or contact Lesley on 07768 130641. You are guaranteed a warm welcome.

Alcester Flower Club

We will be meeting at Our Lady and St. Joseph Catholic Church Hall, Priory Road, Alcester, B49 5DY (opposite Lord Nelson pub) at 7.30pm on Monday 9th May. Demonstrator Janet James will show us her lovely flower designs entitled 'This Colourful World'. Competition 'Flower of the month' June meetingTBA, Outing. Visitors and new members are most welcome. Contact Marian Buchanan 01789 400868.

Alcester WI

We meet at Malt Mill Lane Community Centre at 7.30 pm on the second Thursday evening of each month. On May 12th we have our AGM. On June 9th we will be celebrating the Queen's Jubilee. Do think about joining us. You will be made very welcome.

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Bidford on Avon WI

Our meetings are on the second Thursday of the month at The Church Hall, Church Street, Bidford, starting at 7.30pm. We have a variety of speakers and outings planned for the coming months including a talk about Shakespeare, a guided walk around Warwick followed by a cream tea and an evening of glorious coloured Gemstones. Why not give it a try, you might really enjoy meeting new people. For more information please phone Pauline 01789 773390 or Elizabeth 01789 778887.

Alcester Civic Society

The next meeting of the Civic Society is 7.30pm May 17th at the Town Hall. Speaker: Alan Bailey: 'Billesley - A Small Place with a Big History'. Future events for your diary: June 21st Coach Visit to Taylors Bell Foundry, Loughborough. July 23rd Jazz Picnic-in-the-Park at the Scout Hut. Details from Diane King: mossdiane@btinternet.com or tel. 01789 765029.

Cookhill Garden Club

On Wednesday 18th May at 7.30pm, the Club has a talk by Howard Drury on 'Climbing, Twining and other Wall Shrubs'. Non members welcome. Wednesday 15th June, a visit to Spetchley Park Gardens (near Worcester) which has rare plants, shrubs and trees collected by the Berkeley family over 400 years. Meet at the garden entrance at 2 pm. Details from 01527 894317 or website www.cookhillgarden.club.

Bidford Gardening Society

Thursday 19th May, ‘Climate Change and Gardeners’ by Howard Drury Saturday 4th June, Annual Show – Public Viewing 2pm to 3.15pm. Thursday 16th June, ‘Guy’s Cliffe Walled Garden – it’s fall and rise’, by Sarah Ridgeway. All meetings are held in The Crawford Memorial Hall, Bidford, 7.15pm for 7.30pm start. Further details on www.Bidfordgardens.com.

Warwickshire Vision Support

Alcester Vision Support Centre meet 3rd Tuesday of the Month from 1.30 – 3.30pm at: Malt Mill Lane Community Centre, Malt Mill Lane, Alcester, B49 5QR. For more information call 01926 411331. Our aim is to provide information for those with Vision loss and those who may need advice. The afternoon includes demonstrations of equipment, I.T. support by appointment, talks and a friendly chat with a cup of tea.

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We are a friendly group of men and women who are committed to helping local and international communities. We have been in action for 11 years and organise many regular events, including the ‘Big Breakfasts’ in Alcester and Bidford. We are looking for new members of all ages & backgrounds to boost our team. If you’re interested in having fun whilst helping others & can spare some time, WHY NOT JOIN US? You are welcome to come along to one of our meetings to ﬁnd out for yourself more about what we do & meet our members. For more information about visiting meetings or joining our Rotary Club, contact Jackie Walsh on 07775 975 316 or email: alcesterbidfordrotary@gmail.com

www.facebook.com/AlcesterandBidfordRotary To advertise please call 01789 453130 or email info@connectionmags.co.uk

community events & what’s on...

To publicise any community events, email info@connectionmags.co.uk by 10th of June Alcester Garden Walkabout

Sunday June 26th, 12 noon until 6 pm, the 30th Garden Walkabout in aid of Cancer Research UK. Tickets £5 (under 12s free) on sale in Church Street. Around 20 gardens, large and small, open for viewing in the centre of this historic town. Teas, plants, music and crafts. More info: 01789 764756 No dogs in the gardens please.

Alcester Bridge Club

A small and friendly club, we play duplicate bridge on Friday evenings from 7pm to 10pm at the Jubilee Court Social meeting room. We warmly welcome new members. Please contact either Joe White on 01789 763943 or Paul Brenda on 01789 765077 if you would like to join us. (Email: joe_patwhite@msn.com or sallebrenda@hotmail.com).

Single Boots

We are a Midlands based walking club for single people. We organise weekend day walks, summer evening walks, weekend trips away in cottages, B&B’s and camping, social activities. Please visit our website: www.singleboots.co.uk.

Temple Grafton WI

Our meetings are held at 7.30pm on the second Wednesday of the month at Graftons Village Hall, Temple Grafton. For further details email eileen.timms258@btinternet. com or call 01789 773671.

Broom WI

Meetings are held in Broom Village Hall on the first Thursday of the month, commencing at 7.30 pm.

Broom WI

Meetings are held in Broom Village Hall on the first Thursday of the month, commencing at 7.30 pm.

Salford Priors Ladies Group

Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month. Contact Barbara McIlwaine on 01789 778392 for details.

Alcester u3a

For information about Alcester u3a see our website https://u3asites.org.uk/alcester/home.

Alcester Ladies Probus Club

We meet on the 2nd Wednesday in the month for lunch, 12 for 12.30 at Kings Court Hotel, Kings Coughton. Contact Cath Tomlinson 01789 763210.

men meeting on the 4th Wednesday of the month for lunch followed by a guest speaker. Meetings are at Kings Court Hotel, Alcester 12:15 for 12:30. New members welcome. Full details of membership are available by email: david@hancox1971.co.uk.

Bidford Darby & Joan

We meet at Westholme Court, Westholme Road, Bidford, every Thursday from 2pm. Come and join us.

Bidford Community Group - Jolly Teapot

We meet every Thursday from 10am to 11:30 at The Church Hall, Bidford. Please come along and meet new friends for a cuppa & a chat.

Bingo at Bidford Bowling Club

Come and join us on Friday nights. Eyes down 7 pm. Licensed bar at popular prices.

Alcester Cafe

Alcester Café is a drop-in café, held twice weekly, dedicated to help support people with memory problems/dementia, their families, carers, former carers and interested professional people. Run on a weekly basis, every Tuesday and Friday (except Good Friday, Christmas Day and New Years Day) from 10.30am12.30pm, at the Eric Payne Centre. Call 01789 765971 for more information or we have an excellent website, www.alcesterdementiacafe.org.

Bidford Dementia Cafe

Bidford Dementia Cafe is a place to find nderstanding, get support, do memory activities and have a good time. Refreshments and activities are free. We meet at Westholme Court, Westholme Road, Bidford on Avon on Monday mornings, from 10.30 to 12.30. For more information contact Wendy on 0771 364 8717 or Michael on 0772 587 8530. We have been running at Westhome Court since 2016 and many people have found it of enormous benefit to them. We rely on volunteers to run the cafe. If this is of interest to you and you would like to know more about joining us, please contact Wendy on 0771 364 8716.

Alcester & District Local History Society www.alcesterhistory.org.uk

Bidford History Society www.bidfordhistory.org.uk

Alcester Town Hall

alcestertownhall.org.uk

Alcester & District Men’s Probus

Alcester Mens Probus is a group of retired business

42 connectionmags.co.uk

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To advertise please call 01789 453130 or email info@connectionmags.co.uk

Puzzle Page Answers on page 46.

PICTOGRAMS

Each word to be three letters or more (but no plurals), and all must contain the central letter. There’s at least one word which uses all of the letters.

Each of these pictures represent a well-known song title

Target: Excellent: 44 or more words Good: 36 words Fair: 29 words

5 Words HAIL MARY

5 Words

Callisto

D N

4 Words

Eldrick Woods

A A

Quick Crossword 1

14 15

44 connectionmags.co.uk

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Across 1 Type of pudding (7) 5 Trimmed (5) 8 Large pebbles (5) 9 Brutal (7) 10 At right angles (13) 11 Without effort (6) 12 Grieves for (6) 15 A protest (13) 18 Financial system (7) 19 Beverage (5) 20 Stairs (5) 21 Hauled (7) Down 1 Sticky liquid (5) 2 Accompanies (7) 3 Assorted (13) 4 Split (6) 5 Book of facts (13) 6 Snarl (5) 7 Removes weapons (7) 11 Goes on forever (7) 13 Fence (7) 14 Remained (6) 16 Large deer (5) 17 Nude (5)

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Sudoku solutions (see page 6)

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Easy grid

Wordwheel

ANSWER: CARDIGAN

Simple Crossword

Across: 1 Steamed, 5 Edged, 8 Rocks, 9 Vicious, 10 Perpendicular, 11 Easily, 12 Mourns, 15 Demonstration, 18 Economy, 19 Drink, 20 Steps, 21 Dragged. Down: 1 Syrup, 2 Escorts, 3 Miscellaneous, 4 Divide, 5 Encyclopaedia, 6 Growl, 7 Disarms, 11 Endless, 13 Railing, 14 Stayed, 16 Moose, 17 Naked.

Not so easy grid

Kids Puzzle Answer

The missing objects are (C) Shapes & (C) Flags.

PERKINS EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION AWARDS FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2022-23

The Governors of this charity, founded in 1656 by William Perkins of Salford Priors and London, invite applications for awards from young people under the age of 25. Grants are available to help with expenses in courses of study in further and higher education, vocational training such as apprenticeships, and in some circumstances, structured programmes of personal development such as overseas visits. Awards are not normally given to those under 17 years of age. Applicants must have been resident in one of the following parishes – Salford Priors, Bidford, Broom, Cleeve Prior or Harvington – for not less than two years immediately prior to their application. Application forms are available, upon written request, from the Clerk to the Governors, email info@williamperkinscharity.org Please note that ﬁrst time applicants must

46 connectionmags.co.uk

also provide a testimonial from a teacher, tutor or employer. Application forms may also be downloaded and posted or submitted by email. The deadline for applications is 15th October, 2022. No applications received after that date can be accepted for consideration by the Governors for the academic year 2022-2023. Applicants may be required to attend before the Governors for an interview at a time and place to be notiﬁed in due course by the Clerk. Dated this 1st day of May, 2022. The Clerk to the Governors Perkins’ Educational Foundation 10 Elm Court Arden St Stratford-upon-Avon Warwickshire CV37 6PA

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